“No.”
“That is a pity. She must be persuaded. It will be a great solace to her when she is alone.”
“I am a Catholic, but of course I never go to church.”
“Of course not. Still, you might take her at first. That is what my brother has done with his wife at Bologna and he has joined the Free Thinkers. He took her once or twice himself, and now she has acquired the habit and continues to go without him.”
“Most excellent advice, and I thank you for it. But she wishes to give tea-parties—men and women together whom she has never seen.”
“Oh, the English! they are always thinking of tea. They carry it by the kilogramme in their trunks, and they are so clumsy that they always pack it at the top. But it is absurd!”
“What am I to do about it?”
“Do nothing. Or ask me!”
“Come!” cried Gino, springing up. “She will be quite pleased.”
The dashing young fellow coloured crimson. “Of course I was only joking.”